Press release from Blenheim EquiSports

The first week of spring competition at Blenheim EquiSports came to an exciting conclusion on Sunday afternoon, April 7, as Brazil’s Cassio Rivetti and Chagall de Toscane (Norton d'Eole x Opium de Talma) jumped to victory in the $62,500 CSI2* Blenheim Spring Classic 1 Grand Prix. 

From a starting field of 24 horse-and-rider combinations, seven emerged clear in round one to advance to the jump-off designed by Jaime Morillo and set on the Oaks International Grand Prix Field at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. 

When Rivetti returned to the ring as the fourth to jump off, a clear round had yet to be produced, but he and Chagall de Toscane quickly showed the rest of the field how it was done. The duo stopped the clock in what would prove to be an uncatchable time of 33.34 seconds.

Ireland’s Conor Swail and Count Me In (Count Grannus x Sherlock Holmes) were the next in the ring, and they came the closest to catching Rivetti as they breezed through the timers in 33.53 seconds – less than two-tenths of a second off Rivetti’s pace. With Rivetti and Swail taking the top two spots, third place went to frequent Blenheim EquiSports top contenders Nicole Haunert and My Lady Lavista (Mylord Carthago*HN x Levisto). 

“The first two jumps on the course were big,” said Rivetti. “It was a nice jump-off with good riders, and very fast. It was a nice course to jump.”

Rivetti’s winning mount, Chagall de Toscane, is owned by HF Farms LLC and is most often ridden by Rivetti’s student, amateur rider Laura Hite. However, with Hite away from the show for the week, Rivetti took the reins.  

“I took the chance to ride him a bit,” said Rivetti of the 12-year-old Selle Français stallion. “He’s an amazing horse. He has all the scope, so much quality, and it's just a really good feeling to ride him.”

No matter the mount, Rivetti is no stranger to success at Blenheim EquiSports, and as a frequent competitor at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, he spoke highly of the ongoing upgrades that the Blenheim team is currently undertaking. 

“I love this place; it's so good to be here,” concluded Rivetti. “The new [Ortega Ring] looks amazing. We’re always excited to be here, and I love this grass. The new ebb-and-flow system is perfect; we needed it! It's a beautiful place for us to ride the older horses but also produce the younger ones."

Rivetti will be among the riders that return to Blenheim EquiSports this upcoming week for the Blenheim Spring Classic 2 CSI3* competition, featuring the $117,000 CSI3* Blenheim Spring Classic 2 Grand Prix on Sunday, April 15.